asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the 17 per cent increase in road grants proposed by his Department for Waterford County Council in 1981 is regarded by both the elected members and the engineering staff of the council as being grossly inadequate for the maintenance of the county's roads at a reasonable standard; and if he will make additional funds available.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford Road Grants.
34.
The rate of increase referred to by the Deputy relates to the total amount of road grants, including grants for improvement works, allocated to Waterford County Council. Grants allocated to the council this year for the maintenance of national roads total £298,000 and represent an increase of 23 per cent over the corresponding grants for 1980 and an increase of 201 per cent over the corresponding grants allocated by the previous Government in 1977. The level of expenditure on the maintenance of other roads is dependent largely on the level of funds to be made available by the council from their own resources, supplemented, in the case of main roads, by the block grant provided by my Department. I am satisfied that the improvement grants allocated to the council represent the maximum amount which the council would require in 1981 having regard to the present state of preparedness of its programme for the improvement of the national roads.
Is the Minister aware that the allocation to Waterford is the second lowest in the country? Will he agree that in view of the mileage involved it is a scandalous allocation to the county authority?
I do not accept that. The national road maintenance figure has gone up by 23 per cent and road improvements by 18 per cent. Waterford County Council should get their own plans into a state of preparedness, submit them to me and I will then be in a position to allocate money for improvement works.
Is the Minister aware that we are considering running a competition to find the largest pothole in the county?
That is a reflection on the county officials of Waterford.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 32 of 17 December.
I will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.